Comments on: The Uniform Project

By: sue

sue — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:12:20 +0000

Coco,,I like they way you think. As a stay at home mom, I live in jeans, but I have way too many pairs, and too many tops that I never wear. I’m going to declutter and pare it down to 2 or 3 pair of jeans that fit the best, and my 3 or 4 favorite shirts.

By: logoscoaching

logoscoaching — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:49:06 +0000

what a fantastic idea. To wear the same dress for a whole year is a bit much for me but I think I shall take on board the essence of the idea. Thanks!

By: Gina

Gina — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:12:04 +0000

To me the whole point of simplifying a wardrobe is to reduce or eliminate the accessories, and focus on a simple, clean look. Maybe changing it up with a few different jewelry options.

I’d rather wear the same dress the same way for 365 days than go into all the accessorizing and need all that stuff.

My ideal wardrobe is enough pants/jeans to last me one week without laundry (this means 2 pr jeans, 2 pr casual slacks and 2 pr dressy slacks), and enough tops to go two weeks (6 long or 3/4 sleeve, 6 short sleeve and 2 tank tops works well).

I add to that one summer-weight jacket/topper, two cardigans, one fleece hoodie and one fleece vest. Three identical pr of gym pants & Tshirts.

One or two dresses for nicer occasions, a good interview suit, and a nice outfit for dressy occasions.

I like sticking to a few basic colors — I don’t like wearing black at all so my staple colors are navy and grey. Almost everything else is red, white, banana, or blue-grey.

This weekend I had a friend over — she couldn’t believe I only use about 1/2 of one closet. She has 2+ closets stuffed full. “Where are all your clothes?” she asked. “Where are all your shoes?” (I have 3 pr sandals, 2 pr closed flats, 1 pr boots and then my athletic & weather footwear).

“How much can you wear at 1 time?” I replied. She’s now trying to whittle her 2+ closets down.

NOTE: I work in an office where we telecommute a lot and can wear jeans or business casual all the time. If you have to be dressy my simplification might go too far for you. I never wear anything to work other than jeans or business casual. My favorite work outfit is jeans, a white or red T, my fleece vest and my teva sandals (as late in the year as I can).

No, I don’t need more than one vest, and yes I wash it regularly.

By: india

india — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:14:36 +0000

3 months into the project and it seems to me that not even the stockings have had a second airing with the black dress

the list of minimal garments somewhere in the comments had me giggling too…it’s about 4 times what i own in clothing

tis an interesting whirled

By: Gina

Gina — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:32:35 +0000

Interesting idea and WOW on some of her combinations. I couldn’t do it but I may be able to modify the idea for Sundays. I’m thinking I could sew a simple black, white or cream/brown dress and several overlays to coordinate. No one needs to know that the black dress I’m wearing today under my sheer butterflies is the same dress I wore last week under a different sheer!

I really like the idea of mix and match for daily wear and think that’s what I’ll go for when it’s time to purchase/make a new wardrobe.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:00:52 +0000

Adding on:

Not only that she’s using it to raise money for a worthy cause!

I personally think she has cute style. Very individual and personal. So there.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:57:46 +0000

I think it’s great. Good for her! Everyone has their different opinions, but at least she’s doing something she feels is meaningful to exploring sustainability. I’m just sitting here surfing the net and recycling my paper, plastic and cans. I take action over talk any day. Good on her for doing something fun and meaningful to her!

By: Miss C

Miss C — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:42:54 +0000

I have a closet full of black pantsuits and white tops. Before I did this, dressing was a huge chore for me; now it’s simple as pie and I always feel put together.

I have a friend (a What Not To Wear devotee) who’s always on my *ss about the way I dress, like it somehow affects her life negatively that I’m happy with “bland” clothes. I’ve told her that if a TV crew ever shows up at my door to tell me I look like sh*t and take my clothes away, I’m throwing them off my property and unfriending her on every social networking application known to humankind.

By: Jeannine

Jeannine — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:19:06 +0000

Gwenyth Paltrow actually wrote about this idea on her webiste — she found out quickly after she had children that she had to develop a “uniform” system to make sure she could throw something on quickly and not look like a schlump. Granted, when you look like Gwenyth Paltrow, it’s hard to look bad in anything, but I think this is an interesting idea and a good goal, to find a kind of style and some basic pieces that look great on you and build a basic wardrobe with some variations in it. Check it out:

http://www.goop.com/newsletter/3/en/

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:54:35 +0000

I am doing something similar this year. I finally found jeans that fit and flatter me (Not Your Daughter’s Jeans—they are pricey, but are lasting and again, very flattering and comfortable!). I also finally found t shirts that aren’t too short and don’t ride up–found them at Target, actually.

I wear a t shirt, or a long sleeved t shirt with a layering tank if needed for coverage at the bottom, and my jeans every day. Once a week, I do heavy housework and wear an old, ratty pair of jeans and wash the good pair.

I’m a SAHM, so this works for me. I’ve finally come to terms with the fact that shorts are not flattering on me, and neither are most skirts. Jeans and a t shirt (short or long) are my signature look. It uncomplicates the “what shall I wear” question each morning.

By: PrutsPrinses

PrutsPrinses — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:07:19 +0000

@Tracy & Kris: just google terms like “wardrobe capsule” “wardrobe planning” or “SWAP” aka “Sewing With A Plan”. The last one will talk about sewing capsule wardrobes, but it’s equally interesting to read the articles without being able to sew, you could just as well buy the stuff
The brown dress project seems more uncluttered but the uniform project is cute too! I am going to purge my closet next month

By: JJ

JJ — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:30:41 +0000

Although I applaud the creativity of the project, I must agree with the posts that promote few items of clothing that can “mix and match” rather than overly styling a single item. I have recently lost in excess of 50 pounds, with about 20 pounds to go. I sew the majority of my clothing so there are several things, including a silk dress (in a limited edition fabric) and a wool blazer among other items, that I have saved to alter in the future. Not wanting to spend the time to alter items more than once (a ridiculous waste of time and materials), but also not wanting to spend a lot of money on an interim wardrobe, I have a smallish wardrobe. I have either made, or purchased at a 70% discount, the following: two skirts (alterable in the future), one white and one a blue/green/brown print; one pair of tan slacks; three shirts, brown, white, red; and three sweaters in brown, yellow, and blue. By simply using the above in different combinations, I have over two dozen quite different outfits, not counting switching between black and brown shoes, or adding hats I already own.

By: Phil

Phil — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:17:40 +0000

Isn’t the idea of a “uniform” that you don’t have to look different? I.e. Steve Jobs doesn’t feel the need to add accessories so his jeans and black turtle-neck aren’t mistaken for what he wore yesterday.

And if your goal is to minimise your wardrobe by re-wearing a dress differently every day, then buying three or so outfits of different (but matching) colours would by WAY more practical.

By: tabatha

tabatha — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:41:38 +0000

i recently bought about ten of the same light purple men’s shirts on clearance at Target, i have a few pairs of similar(but different colors) comfy pants. and that’s what i wear most of the time. i have work clothes, which are a couple pair of khaki paints and a few red t-shirts, since i also work at Target. i have other stuff but i don’t wear it that often. i have some skirts and a couple of nice shirts that are all black that i wear when i want to look nice for something, like going to a wedding or graduation that i went to recently. most of the clothes i had i got rid of b/c they either didn’t fit or i didn’t wear them enough to justify keeping them.

By: sue

sue — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:43:46 +0000

“….enough creative license to make it look like I just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade’s boudoir….”
Um, no thanks for THAT mental image! LOL!

Interesting experiment, and if one applies the concept, but not the specifics, could work with pieces most people own. (I’d be holding a dress-burnin’ party when this year is over, tho!)